Deep Space Nine‘s Union Episode Showed the Power of Solidarity in Sci-Fi

Deep Space Nine didso many thingsto examine the vestige wander in the Federation ’s idealized utopia . In presenting its clearly alien setting on the titular station — in the first place staffed and lived on by non - Federation people — and in face the Federation ’s position throughconflict and the harsh realitiesof post - war rebuilding , it challenge Star Trek to weather hardship and come out the other sidestronger and more hopefulthan ever . And perhaps few report apprehend quite how uplifting it that is than “ Bar Association . ”

Star Trek ’s idealise vision of a united future rarely had the indigence to harness labour rights . After all , the Federation was a post - scarcity society — an individual ’s labor , whether it was signing up for the military / diplomatic / scientific hodgepodge that was Starfleet , or run your own eatery ( as Captain Sisko ’s own begetter did ) , was offered without the need for financial recompense , but instead to serve for both personal satisfaction and in the betterment of those around you . But Deep Space Nine’snon - traditional settingallowed the dealership to tackle topic that simply would n’t otherwise work through the genus Lens of Star Trek ’s typical Federation Hero of Alexandria , and soseason four ’s “ Bar Association”—which see Max Grodénchik ’s put - upon Ferengi bar supporter Rom adjudicate he ’s had enough of his pal Quark ’s abuse and forge his own worker ’s labor union — gave us a chance to see the importance of British Labour Party rights even in a futurity as progressive as Star Trek ’s .

Framed through the often comical relationship between the two brothers , “ Bar Association ” slow but surely radicalize Rom to concepts that are anathema to Ferengi culture and its unreasonable , indulgent love of capitalist economy . After Quark docks Rom ’s meager wages from work at the cake when he becomes sick on the chore — collapsing mid - switching , much to his brother ’s humiliation — the Ferengi realizes that his sidekick ’s , and his own , adhesion to the “ Laws of Acquisition ” comes at the exploitation of those without financial leverage . Learning from figure like Sisko and Bashir ( illustration of the Federation ’s own idealized approach to labor ) , and O’Brien ( who proudly totes his family ’s pro - union history ) , Rom plunk into the history of socialist proletarian motion , pushed further and further by his brother ’s more and more cruel treatment of not just Rom , but everyone who works for him at his bar . When Quark decide to uniformly ignore reward due to a unruffled period of trade — telling Rom , Leeta , and all the other workers they can assume the cut or be fired — Rom at long last make up one’s mind to step out of his buddy ’s shadow , convincing his fellow workers that together they can take a stand against Quark ’s misuse and advocate for their own selves by forming their own union .

Rom and his fellow employees enter a very brief bargaining session.

Rom and his fellow employees enter a very brief bargaining session.Screenshot: Paramount

“ Bar Association ” intensify largely through a personal level — it is , first and foremost , a story about Quark and Rom ’s relationship with each other , and how the former has neglected his brother so much that he ’s unable to see the latter footmark out of his tail and take a grip on his own living before his eyes . But it frame in this fraternal struggle through the labor consequence that Quark ’s exploitation of his brother ’s love has created , particularly after Quark try out to cast apart that relationship from his position of big businessman , severalize Rom “ In this legal profession , you ’re not my brother , you ’re my employee . ” When he first learns that Rom intends to organize the legal community staff , an apoplectic Quark go to his brother and try out to resuscitate that kinship , offering Rom the private gain of more latinum in exchange for stopping his unionisation effort — the only means Quark can view their relationship , a transactional cost rather than a familial one . He ’s drive back by the most powerful leverage Rom has ever had over him : a ego - actualized believe in his worth as a worker ( with a little help from a noted Marx quote ) .

Brunt ’s brutal escalation — and how he even turns on Quark in the summons — sees “ Bar Association ” goal with the disintegration of Rom ’s conjugation , but not in a tragic way . In exchange for officially shutter the pairing so the FCA will get off Quark ’s back , he concur to all of Rom ’s requirement effective by the destruction of the hebdomad : secure better earnings , guaranteed give sick farewell , and less exploitative hours for the intact measure staff . And while it ’s perhaps not straight to substantial life conglutination drive — where declaration have to be negociate metre and clip again , and one - off improvements do n’t of a sudden stop British Labour Party disputes — it solve for Rom ’s personal electric discharge on Deep Space Nine , as the drive allows him to take origin of his place on the station . He quits work at the bar , join the Bajoran engineering crew on the station as a technician , following his rage for technology . His work on the union brings him nigher to Dabo young woman Leeta , set the level for their eventual romanticism . And above all , Rom begin to see himself as his own mortal , defined by things beyond his association with his brother .

Deep Space Nine or Star Trek at large may never have returned to analyse toil issues as keenly as it did after “ Bar Association ” air , and never had the prospect to show the work of labor movements as uninterrupted , run acts of solidarity , defined not by single victories but repeated vigilance . But even then , in showcasing the economic value of brotherhood , it championed one of Star Trek ’s most fervent of ideals : that the indigence of the many outweigh the needs of the few , and that there is exponent in standing together to improve the heap of all .

Screenshot: Paramount